Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Mr. Ahmad Jannati is the chair of the Guardian Council of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran and he has been a funny man for decades; but not anymore.

Recently he has been talking to the Friday Prayers in Tehran, and in his remarks he referred to the up-coming presidential election in Iran. He has been quoted as saying that 'Iranian presidency is not such a trivial matter which we just give it away.'

His political sense of humor has been the subject of the Iranian Young's jokes for years and now; I realise why! He, in fact, was suggesting that it is him and a bunch of his colleagues in the Guardian Council who elect president for the Iranian people and Not the Iranian people themselves! He is a farceur. Nevertheless, the only inference I can derive from the funny comment is that he might have been implying the election of the current president Ahmadi Nejad into the office almost four years ago; or for that matter, the entire presidential elections have been conducted in the life-time of the Islamic Republic in Iran!

However, no matter how funny this guy is, at this crucial time when Mr. Obama is waiting for the new Iranian president, offered by the Iranian people, to shake hand with, he does not sound funny at all.

Another implication of that suggestion, however, is that he and the rest of the old farceurs of the council can swim - in the current world-political-ocean without a life jacket; called 'Iranian People' - and not sink.

I have a simple message for them: I am much younger than all of you, and I am also a good swimmer; it is scary!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Now that Mohammad Khatami - former Iranian president - has withdrawn from the country's coming-up presidential-election; he has introduced Mr. Mir Hossein Mosavi - the first and the last Iranian prime-minister of the revolution's time as his favourite candidate.

Mr. Mosavi is - more or less - an unknown figure to the new generation Iranian voters inside the country. He has not been a public personality - at least in the Islamic Republic political-landscape - for the last 20 years. He had been the first and the last prime minister of the country in 1980s - the Islamic Republic changed its executive system of government during his term and removed the prime ministership position. He had served under Mr. Ali Khameneei's presidency - then president and the current Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic.

Beside of being unknown to the Iranians however, Mr. Mosavi certainly is, in comparison with Mr. Khatami, a stranger to the outside world as well.

This could somewhat justify the Mr. Khatami's action to be the first person to name him as a potential candidate - "if Mr. Mosavi is ready to run for the office then I will not come", said Mr. Khatami. It was Mr. Khatmi himself who brought him to the fore. Now that Mr. Mosavi is a candidate, Mr. Khatami is gone.

Nonetheless and regardless of who is who and who is going to compete in the coming election, it is the Iranian people who are responsible to offer their best candidate to the world. After all, the well-being of the Iranian people and the country economically, the security and national interests of the country, the Middle East peace and stability and in a broader sense the world peace are somewhat depended on the way in which the next Iranian president and his administration engage the outside world.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Last Thursday Mr. Mohammad Khatami - former Iranian president who is visiting Australia - was at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

He had been invited to the University by professor Joseph Camilleri - chair of the Centre for Dialogue.

Mr. Khatami was Iran's president for two terms between 1997 to 2005. During his second term in office in 2001, he originated the theory of Dialogue Among Civilization - a response to Samuel P. Huntington's theory of Clash of Civilization . His idea thus was to facilitate a world-stage where world political rivals could sit and work-out their differences. His idea has been since well-received around the world.

The La Trobe Centre for Dialogue is one of many such centres established around the world. The Melbourne's successful experience was an example. A strong, over 2000, assembly of enthusiastic people - both of Iranian origin and the Australian - have embraced Mr. Khatami. Mr. Khatami talked about the need for peaceful dialogue through out the world. At the same time, he also touched the political issues between Tehran and the west - specifically the US. He suggested that all of the standing issues between the two could easily be addressed provided both side genuinely willing to come at the discussion table. That was a positive message for the White House.

Nevertheless, Iran will go to a presidential-election in two months time and Iranians have a burden on their shoulders - responding to their American counterparts. Iranians are expected to respond to the American people whom sent president Obama into office. A president who talks different and ready to shake hand with the Iranians chosen president.